We're coming up on our 5th anniversary, and I am having a hard time thinking of a good gift. The traditional gift for the 5th is "wood" (LOL), which makes it even more difficult. I'd like to keep it under $200, but will spend more for the right thing. Any ideas? I may just have to go to the default gift (jewelery), but I'd like to get creative.

How about a gift of something, doesn't matter. But, add to that a note about how you really feel about her. Buy her a jewelry box...

But in it, put a letter to her telling her what it's been like to be married to her for 5 years. Spend some time on this and tell her how you really feel. The little things you like. The things that bug you but you can laugh at. Special little moments that you remember but she may not (until being reminded by you in the letter). Things she did for you that really affected you. Things you learned being married to her that you didn't expect.

Spend a week writing this letter, making a first draft then going back to re-read and edit several times. Put it in a nice envelope on nice stationary.

Or, inside the jewelry box, on little separate pieces of paper write little "jewels" about her like: You are _____ (warm, athletic, patient... whatever. Just all the things you like about her.)

This will be more heart-felt and better than any $$$ gift you could buy. Done right and with time & thought, she will love it.

Problem with a jewelry box is that I bought her one a few years ago (which she actually asked for for xmas or something), but she never used it. I ended up using it on my workbench for a while, and then selling it on CL.